Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

One of Westport's favorite events was held at Sunday at Winslow Park in Downtown Westport, sometimes called "the dog park". Produced by the Westport-Weston Chamber Of Commerce in association with Choice Pet and T.A.I.L.S., The Alliance In Limiting Strays, the event was a beautiful day for dog lovers, families, and especially the dogs who numbered over 700 along with more than 2,000 humans who brought them or came to admire them and watch as the canines competed in multiple contests.

The event is always a big success thanks to the hard work of Chamber Executive Director Matthew Mandell and his team of hardworking volunteers, and the event proceeds, over $6,000 are distributed to local pet-related non-profits. This 7th edition of the much loved annual event will bring the total donations to more than $50,000 to-date.

Great food options were available from 4 food trucks as festival-goers entered the grounds. More than 50 vendors offered everything from many varieties of dog treats and goodies including holistic dog (and cat) treats to a wide array of canine clothing and accessories such as stylish dog bandanas. Multiple adoption and animal rescue organizations including Adopt-A-Dog a leading Westchester county rescue and adoption organization, Lucky Dog Rescue and ROAR, the Ridgefield Operation for Animal Rescue helped match potential dog adopters with their new best friends. Fidelco Guide Dogs which are German Shepherds well bred from Bavarian stock which are provided to the blind were also represented at their tent. Animal advocates CT Votes For Animals provided information on how they lobby legislatures to help pass laws protecting animals who cannot protect themselves.

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There were several highly entertaining contests for our four-legged friends and their humans. Best Tail Wagger, Best Singer/Barker, Best Trick, Best Dressed, Best Kisser (or licker) and a crowd favorite Best Lap Dog Over 50 pounds. This year that event resulted in a 3-way tie as shown in the above photo which shows the three competitors judges chose for first place tie.

On the left is Oakley who had the added challenge of wearing a brace due to a torn ACL. At center is Rex and on the right was a nearly 90 lb. English Mastiff named Buddy who was selected the winner chosen by audience applause for each contestant.

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There was something for everyone including children who were entertained by a balloon bender, face painter, caricaturist and field games.

The Dog Lovers Days Lure Course returned to the festival again this year offering dogs, and sometimes their owners a chance to chase and try to catch a lure which runs at high speed on a wire throughout the course, which most but not all dogs find irresistible. The winner with the best time was rewarded for his/her efforts with a year's supply of dog food.

Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

The most watched event each year is a demonstration by law enforcement K-9 officers held twice during the day. This year Westport's own Officer Dave Scinto and his German Shepherd, K-9 officer Atlas were joined by Corporal Kevin Smith and his Belgian Malinois, K-9 officer Onyx.

The dogs showed off the skills they bring to the Westport PD including drug detection, sniffing out illicit drugs which were hidden in one of the two PD cruisers, and displayed their outstanding obedience training as they are directed by there human partners. The K-9s outstanding ability to apprehend a suspect thrilled the crowd as Corporal Smith demonstrated while wearing a protective sleeve which is used by PD to train the dogs. K-9 Atlas showed the audience why the last thing a suspect wants to see is a Westport PD K-9 charging toward them. After finally letting go of the sleeve Scinto and Smith brought the dogs over to the crowd for a Q & A session, and gave K-9 Atlas a few extra minutes to chomp on his protective sleeve.

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Felines were not forgotten. T.A.I.L.S., The Alliance In Limiting Strays (tailsct.org) the Westport based Cat Rescue organization also had a strong presence.

One of the NY metro area's premier rescue operations, the North Shore Animal League, based in Long Island, NY provided their Mobile Unit, a custom built extended van which holds two dozen or more cats to TAILS to help in their mission to adopt the many stray cats and kittens found in our area and which they currently have housed with their group of volunteers.

North Shore helps support TAILS by generously providing this vehicle at no charge to TAILS for the festival as well as their monthly adoption events held each month at Petco locations in Westport & Fairfield.

Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.